Single dial tension for bass drums



Sept. 19,` 1939. F. scHUMAN 2,173,443

SINGLE DIAL TENSION FOR BASS DRUMS Filed June '7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet lATTORN EYS Sept. 19, 1939.

F. SCHUMAN Filed June 7, 193.7

SINGLE DIAL TENSION FOR BASS D RUMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR B'@wg/amr@ ATTORN EY'S Patented sept. 19, 1939 2,173,443

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SINGLE DIAL TENSION FOR BASS DRUMS FredSchuman, McGregor, Mich.

Application June 7, 1937, Serial No. 146,941 4 Claims. (Cl. 84-411) Thisinvention relates to drum tensioning deincluding shaft sections I3 andI4 rotatably sup-- vices and has for the primary object the proported bya pair of spaced bearings I5 carried vision of a device of thischaracter which inby the shell, one being threaded for the com-1 cludes-a plurality of improved tensioning elepanion shaft I3. One of the shaftsections has 5 ments and an operating means connected thereto, a socketI6 provided with angularly related walls 5 whereby all of saidtensioning elements may be to receive an extension I'I on the sectionI3. The simultaneously operated to increase or decrease extension I'Ihas angularly related faces to match the tension on the drum heads,which saves time the angularly related Walls of the socket I6 so in theadjustment of a drum and permits such that the shaft sections areslidably connected i work to be more readily and accurately accomandheld against rotation relative to each other. 10 plished. A sleeve I8loosely houses the inner ends of the With these and other objects inview, this inshaft sections I3 and I4, being arranged between ventionconsists in certain novel features of conthe bearing I and suitably heldin this position struction, combination and arrangement of parts whilethe threads of one of each pair of the said to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and bearings matches screw threads I9 on each shaft 15claimed. section I3. The bearing of the clamp IU engage- For a completeunderstanding of my invenable with one of the hoops or bands hasjournalefi tion, reference is to be had to the following detherein asleeve 29 having feed threads meshscription and accompanying drawings,in which ing with feed threads 2l of the shaft section I4.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view illustrating a The sleeve 20 is heldagainst endwise movement 20 drum equipped With a tensioning device coninits respective bearing in one direction by a structed in accordance withmy invention. flange 22. The shaft section I3 is journaled in Figure 2is a side elevation illustrating the the bearing II and has securedthereto a gear 23. same. Sprocket gears 24 are journaled on the flangeg5 Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 of one of the hoopsor bands 3 and have the 25 3 3 of Figure 1 sprocket chain 9 trainedthereover, being at the Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the lineoutermost sides of the said gears 24. A gear 25 4 4 of Figure 1. has apinion 25 which meshes with the gear 23 Figure 5 is a sectional Viewtaken on the line While the said gear 25 meshes with a pinion 24 5-5 ofFigure 4. joined with the gear 24 so that the rotation of 30 Figure 6 isa sectional view taken on the line the shaft 6 by the hand wheel 'I inone direction 6 6 of Figure 4. will bring about adjustment of the shaftsections Figure 7 is a perspective View of one of the I3 and I4 towardeach other to increase the tenguide rollers. sion on the drum heads andon rotation of the Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical transverse shaft 6in an opposite direction the tension on 35 sectional view through thedrum. the drum heads will be reduced. By the tension- Figure 9 is afragmentary elevation looking toing shafts I2, through simultaneousadjustment ward one of the finger pieces. thereof, permits a drum to betensioned evenly,

Referring in detail to the drawings, the nuaccurately and quickly.

meral I indicates -a shell of a drum, 2, the heads Guide rollers 26 arejournaled on stud axles 26 40 of the drum and 3 head securing hoops orbands of brackets 26 adjustably mounted on the flange to which the heads2 are secured and each in- 4 of one of the hoops or bands 3 and theserollers clude a. supporting flange 4 partly overlying the 26 engage thesprocket chain 9 at opposite sides head adjacent thereto. Bearings 5carried by of the sprocket gear 8'. The sleeves 20 have ating shaft 6provided at one end with a hand oted thereto which may be brought intoposiwheel I and with a gear 8 at its opposite end. tion to permit aperson to adjust the tension- The gear 8 through a transfer gear 9'operates a ing elements or shafts I2 independently of each sprocket gear8' over which travels an endless other, the springs for these fingerpieces being Clamps IIJ separably engage with the periphposition engagewith the clamps I0 next thereto eral edges of the hoops or bands 3 andare prefso as to hold the sleeves rotatably supported in erably evenlyspaced an equal distance about the journals II against turning movementfor the the drum and have formed thereon journals II effectiveness ofthe simultaneous adjustment of the hoops or bands rotatably support anoperspring pressed snap jointed finger pieces 21 piv- 45:

sprocket chain 9. indicated at 2l. 'Ihese finger pieces when in one 50to rotatably support tensioning shafts I2, each the tensioning shafts.Now when it is desired to 55 make adjustment of one of these shaftsindividually, the finger piece 2'! Will be freed from the engagementwith the clamp if] so that it can be manually operated for the turningof the sleeve 2] and thus independent adjustment with respect to one ofthe tensioning shafts can be accomplished by manual manipulation of thefinger piece 2T for the rotation of the sleeve 2l). Cine of each pair ofbearings l5 has tted therein a bushing l5 being iiXed by a retainingscrew l5.

What is claimed is:

l. A tensioning device for a drum having a shell, drum heads mountedthereon and adjustable hoops for the said heads, comprising extensibleand contractible rotatable tensioning elements disposed concentricallyof and outside of said shell and each having intertted shaft sections,one shaft section of each tensioning element having a socket providedwith angularly related Walls, extensions formed on the other shaftsection of each tensioning element received in said socket and havingfaces shaped to match the angularly related Walls, clamps engaging saidhoops and having connection with said tensioning elements, sprocketgears associated with one of the hoops and having operative connectionwith certain of the shaft sections of said tensioning elements, anendless chain fitting the sprocket gear, and a single hand-operatedmeans associated with one of the sprocket gears for imparting movementto the said chain.

2. A tensioning device for a drum having a shell, drum heads mountedthereon and adjustable hoops for the said heads, comprising bearingscarried by said shell, extensible and contractible rotatable tensioningelements journaled in said bearings and each having interrltted shaftsections, one shaft section of each tensioning element having a socketprovided With angularly related Walls, an extension formed on the othershaft section of each tensioning element received in said socket andhaving faces shaped to match the angularly related Walls, clampsengaging said hoops, bearings formed on said clamps and the bearings ofthe clamps engageable with one of the hoops rotatably supporting certainof the shaft sections, sleeves journaled in the bearings of the clampsengageable with the other hoops and threaded onto the other shaftsections of said tensioning elements, sprocket gears associated With oneof the hoops and having operative connection with certain of the shaftsections, a sprocket chain connecting said sprocket gears, and a singleoperating means associated with Yone of the sprocket gears for drivingthe sprocket chain.

3. A tensioning device for a drum having a shell, drum heads mountedthereon and adjustable hoops for the said heads, comprising bearingscarried by said shell, extensible and contractible rotatable tensioningelements journaled in said bearings and each having intertted shaftsections, one shaft section of each tensioning element having a socketprovided with angularly related Walls, an extension formed on the othershaft section of each tensioning element received in said socket andhaving faces shaped to match the angularly related Walls, clampsengaging said hoops, bearings formed on said clamps and the bearings ofthe clamps engageable with one of the hoops rotatably supporting certainof the shaft sections, sleeves journaled in the bearings of the clampsengageable With the other hoops and threaded onto the other shaftsections of said tensioning elements, sprocket gears associated with oneof the hoops and having operative connection with certain of the shaftsections, a sprocket chain connecting said sprocket gears, a singleoperating means associated with one of the sprocket gears for drivingthe sprocket chain, and means associated with certain of the clamps forindividual adjustment of the same independently of the tensioningelements.

4. A tensioning device for a drum having a shell, drum heads mountedthereon and adjust-- able hoops for the said heads, comprising bearingscarried by said shell, extensible and contractible rotatable tensioningelements journaled in said bearings and each having interfitted shaftsections, one shaft section of each tensioning element having a socketprovided With angularly related Walls, an extension formed on the othershaft section of each tensioning element received in said socket andhaving faces shaped to match the angularly related Walls, clampsengaging said hoops, bearings formed on said clamps and the bearings ofthe clamps engageable with one of the hoops rotatably supporting certainof the shaft sections, sleeves journaled in the bearings of the clampsengageable With the other hoops and threaded onto the other shaftsections of said tensioning elements, 'sprocket gears associated withone of the hoops and having operative connection with certain of theshaft sections, a sprocket chain connecting said sprocket gears, asingle operating means associated With one of the sprocket gears fordriving the sprocket chain, means associated with certain of the clampsfor individual adjustment of the same independently of the tensioningelements, and means for permitting adjustment of the last-named meansfor holding the same against individual adjustment thereof independentlyof the tensioning elements4 FRED SCHUL/IAN.

